<p>Pretty self-explanatory...what would the advantages be of one over the other? However, keep in mind a few very important things: Michigan is in-state for me, therefore it is MUCH closer and MUCH cheaper. Also, i am most likely interested in science. So IF i were accepted to both...which would be more advantagous?</p>
<p>Either offers a quality education in any science. Stanford's prestige is somewhat more than Michigan's. You need to decide if the difference in price tag is worth that. Some think it is, I do not.</p>
<p>If one is interested in science that typically means grad school. Do well at either and a top grad school is in your future, which is what will really matter in terms of future employment in the sciences, not the undergrad school one attends. No real advantage in Stanford over Michigan in terms of grad school placement in the sciences, the real advantage (though it may not be worth the money) is weather!</p>
<p>For a Michigan in-state, weather wo'nt be a big issue.
Some do think the beautiful four-season weather in Michigan is better than the boring two-season weather in California.</p>
<p>Are you anticipating financial aid that would include loans? If so, debt burden would also be an issue for me. Of course, until you get the packages, one can't say where the debt burden would be higher. Michigan is cheaper, but Stanford has the better aid resources.</p>
<p>For undergraduate Stanford w/o hesitation. There is no way you won't like it. :)</p>
<p>FOr graduate, the situation becomes more complex because Umich might even be better academically than Stanford. Both are tops in everything.</p>
<p>That's a tough one. Michigan offers a better overall college experience, but Stanford is one of the top 5 undergraduate institutions in the country. Personally, if I had a choice back when I was chosing colleges, I would have definitely picked Stanford over Michigan. But knowing what I know today, the decision would be much tougher. </p>
<p>Obviously, cost wcould become a factor. Is it worth spending $160,000 to attend Stanford when you can attend Michigan for $80,000? I mean, Stanford is one of the top 5 universities in the nation, but Michigan is one of the top 15, so it really depends how much value you place on that small gap. </p>
<p>I actually agree with drusba.</p>
<p>Michigan. Better parties and hotter girls I bet. Like Illinois (Were I'm going to transfer to). And if your instate like me, its way more cheaper then other schools.</p>
<p>I'm female. Can't say i care about hot girls. Lol.</p>
<p>What do you intend to do after undergraduate school and how much money do you need to do it? From being in-state, you know what a good reputation University of Michigan has. And Stanford is a given. If you are headed to grad school or med school and need $$$ to do so, then save your money and go to UM undergrad. At either school, your experience will be top-notch.</p>
<p>I realize Stanford holds "sacred cow" status, but I find the place to be as interesting as an appliance. It just strikes me as a place devoid of any "soul". Very little diversity in the student population, little to no sense of social conscience (rather right of wing). Even the weather is the same every day.</p>
<p>This question is ridiculous - go to Michigan.</p>
<p>i would pick michigan. the weather's nice.</p>
<p>I went to Stanford EPGY and absolutely LOVE that school...but, I'm also an instater for Michigan. If it were me, I'd pick Michigan for a few reasons:</p>
<p>1) the prestige is a non-issue if your goal is grad school.
2) you'd be close to home (which is both good and bad, but for me the good outweighs the bad)
3) ann arbor is a hell of a lot cooler than palo alto.
4) it's hella cheaper, although i have enough saved in college funds to pay for 3 years of stanford anyway.
5) i'd be with a lot of my highschool friends, as well as having the opportunity to meet new ones (hello, 40,000 students...)
6) i actually love michigan weather better than california weather. i'm one of the few that really appreciates the weather here. winter sucks, but march through october are positively beautiful almost every day.</p>
<p>If you got into both and where questioning it, you should go to michigan.</p>
<p>
[quote]
It just strikes me as a place devoid of any "soul". Very little diversity in the student population, little to no sense of social conscience (rather right of wing).
[/quote]
</p>
<p>How exactly do you know this?? How much time did you actually spend there to draw this conclusion? Are you sure you are not being judgemental and bitter?</p>
<p>First of all, Stanford admits amazing students. Somehow, according to you, a place full of great students is "devoid of any 'soul". Very interesting. </p>
<p>What do you mean by "diversity in the student population"? If you are talking about ethnic diversity, Stanford is more diverse than Michigan and many other universities. Michigan has 64.9% Caucasians, 13.7% Asians, 7.7% Afro Americans, 4.8% Hispanics (2003 data); Stanford has 41% Caucasians, 24% Asians, 10% Afro Americans, 11% Hispanics (2005 data).</p>
<p>"little to no sense of social conscience"? Again, just how exactly do you arrive at this generalizatoin? I don't know Stanford specificly looks for students with "little to no sense of social conscience"? LOL! According to stats from the Peace Corps, Stanford ranks high in terms of sending numbers of volunteers to serve in it. <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/03/25/MN125472.DTL&type=chart%5B/url%5D">http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/03/25/MN125472.DTL&type=chart</a> Normalizing with the student population, Stanford's number is comparable to Berkeley's.</p>
<p>Another example of how Stanford students helped underprivileged HS students: <a href="http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/epagrad-061505.html%5B/url%5D">http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/epagrad-061505.html</a></p>
<p>By the way, I usually find bigoted people have no social conscience.</p>
<p>Sam, although I definitely do not agree with bullwinkle about diversity (Stanford is very diverse), I agree with him on the other fronts. The campus, although beautiful, is very sterile and cold, not at all academic in style...more remeniscent of a country club. The weather, although more pleasant, is dowright boring, and seldom comfortable. Hardly a night goes by in the Bay area where the temps do not drop into the low 60s or high 50s. The white winters of Ann Arbor are gorgeous, as is the very colorful fall, and the oft looked forward Spring. And the summers are actually warm.</p>
<p>Academically, there is little doubt that Stanford is better, but is it really that much better that you would spend twice the money? I mean, Michigan is one of the top 15 research universities in the nation...Stanford is one of the top 4 or 5. Not exactly night and day difference.</p>
<p>Unless Stanford gives you a bad financial aid package, I don't see how this is even a debate.</p>
<p>It is for me, again mainly because Stanford is SO far away. Also, they would have to give me a pretty large fin aid package to rival Michigan's in-state tuition.</p>
<p>And if you are good enough to get a hefty scholarship (not loan) from Stanford, you are probably good enough to get a full ride from Michigan.</p>